Quick Stats
Campus: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Type: Private
Accreditation: ACBSP
Base Program Cost: $33,552
Per Credit Hour: $699
Minimum Credit Hours: 48
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Online Concentrations: Generalist/Electives, Accounting, Business Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Global Operations and Supply Chain Management, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology Management, Marketing, Project Management
On Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Overview | Tuition | Financial Aid
Introduction
Capella University has been providing students with a quality online education since it was established in 1993. The school strives to offer online degree programs for working adults that help them meet their professional and personal goals. Capella offers certificate programs, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in various fields, including business, education, health administration, human services, information technology, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety and social work. Capella is a wise choice for students who wish to expand their business knowledge and climb the corporate ladder.
Accreditation
Capella has been accredited since 1997 by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Higher Learning Commission. This commission is one of two members of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, which is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the country. Since 1895 the Higher Learning Commission has accredited degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions within the North Central region. This association is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a reputable evaluator of postsecondary institutions’ educational quality. Additionally, Capella is a charter participant in the Academic Quality Improvement Program, in which it abides by an annual review regimen as opposed to the traditional 10-year review cycle.
Academics
Capella offers the following MBA options:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Accounting
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Finance
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in General Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Global Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Health Care Management
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Information Technology Management
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Marketing
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Specializing in Project Management
These versatile programs give students a strong foundation in general business practices through courses such as Operations and Process Management, Marketing and Brand Management, Strategy, Financial Management, and Professional Effectiveness: Stretch, Impact, Reposition. In addition to core courses, students will be required to complete classes specific to their chosen specialization. These MBA programs are taught by qualified faculty members who are also successful business professionals, so that instruction comes from a combination of academic expertise and real world experience. Capella MBA graduates leave prepared for management positions in business functions such as finance, accounting, marketing and human resources.
Student Life
An online education from Capella gives students the ability to complete school on their own time and the flexibility to set their own schedules. However, students still must be able to keep up with their class work and meet deadlines, with most courses in the MBA programs lasting 12 weeks. Students at Capella typically spend about 13 hours each week on each course, although specific amounts of time may fluctuate from five to 20 hours based on enrolled number of credit hours, specific program, previous knowledge and learning pace. As of fall 2009, more than 80 percent of those enrolled at Capella were graduate students. Of those, 94 percent were enrolled part time and 6 percent full time, according to College Navigator.
Admission
If you want to apply for one of Capella’s MBA programs, you must be able to provide the following items:
- A completed admission application
- $75 application fee
- An official undergraduate transcript from an accredited university
- High school or GED transcript
- Proof of a cumulative GPA of at least 2.30 from a bachelor’s degree granting institution
- English proficiency examination results (for non-English speakers)
Capella admitted all undergraduate applicants for the fall 2009 term, according to College Navigator, although the percentage for its graduate business program is likely a bit lower. Those who want to secure admittance into Capella’s MBA programs should make sure that they submit all of the required documentation in complete and on time. The MBA program runs on 12 week quarters and has shorter breaks than other programs given its accelerated pace. Those who miss one round of applications may be able to join in the next round, as MBA students can begin their first course every six weeks. While students can work on the program at their own pace either full or part time, they will likely have to abide by a maximum time from program start date to completion, typically four years. MBA students who are enrolled full time can expect to complete the program within two years. Those who have not been enrolled for four consecutive quarters will have to apply for readmission. If readmitted, Capella will assign those students a new start date in which they can pick up where they left off in the program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
An MBA program from Capella consists of 48 credit hours and with a price tag of $699 per credit hour, the cost for the entire program is $33,552, as reported by the school’s website. Many students have been able to reduce their tuition cost through transfer credits, prior learning credit, U.S. armed forces discount, employer tuition reimbursement and corporate alliances. Capella has alliances with more than 175 corporations that support employee participation in its online programs. As specific tuition amounts can differ according to each person’s circumstances, Capella enrollment counselors can provide potential students with a more accurate estimate. All students attending Capella are eligible to receive financial aid such as employer reimbursement, loans, grants and scholarships. Federal aid is also available for MBA half-time students who submit a FAFSA application.
Why Capella University?
Not only is Capella a regionally accredited university, but it tailors its programs specifically for adult learners and working professionals. It offers 44 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in 136 specialized areas of study with more than 1,450 online courses.
Even though students are completing their course work at a distance doesn’t mean that they are not surrounded by an easily accessible support system that includes academic advisers, career counselors, disability services, armed forces support, enrollment counselors, cost and financing help, and tech support. In addition to support services, Capella students have access to online resources to aid them in their studies. These programs focus on areas such as reading, writing, research, time management, program planning and learning effectively online. All students also have access to Capella’s online academic library that has a large collection of scholarly and professional resources. Those who wish to enhance their professional development should check out the Capella University Alumni Center, which provides professional employment information, networking opportunities and developmental grants.
Capella boasts high satisfaction rates reported by students. In a 2009 alumni survey, 98 percent of respondents reported that their Capella education provided them with practical knowledge as well as expertise that they were able to apply in a variety of professional settings. In an Alumni Outcome Survey, graduates of the School of Business and Technology reported that in just one year after earning their master’s degree they were able to accomplish the following career goals: 25 percent received a promotion; 27 percent assumed a leadership role; 31 percent advanced in their career or profession; and 42 percent received a salary increase.
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